Disinfecting/mineral treating composition and methods

ABSTRACT

Source water is treated by mixing a first component selected from the group comprising neutralized phosphonic acid compounds, neutralized phosphonate compounds, neutralized derivatives of phosphorus, neutralized anti-scalent polymers, and mixtures thereof, a second component from the group comprising chlorite salt and chlorate salt is admixed to the mixture of the water and the first component, and water. The water and the first and second components are present in amounts sufficient to form a stable liquid composition in which there is substantially no conversion of the second component to chlorine dioxide.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a composition for disinfecting source waterand surfaces contacted by the source water, and for substantiallyeliminating mineral deposits on surfaces. More particularly, it relatesto a stable disinfecting/mineral treating composition in water that doesnot produce dangerous gaseous compounds when mixed with the water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Municipal water, surface water and well water contain varying amounts ofpathogens, dissolved oxygen and minerals. The pathogens form biofilmsthat cause disease and corrosion. Dissolved minerals in the water formcrystalline structures that restrict passageways and reduce water flow.There is a need for providing a low cost composition that willeffectively eliminate microorganisms and prevent crystalline mineraldeposits and that only requires a simple feed of the composition from acontainer into the source water via an inexpensive metering pump. It isan object of the invention to fill this need.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce or eliminatemicroorganisms and also prevent crystalline mineral deposits and to doso without generating substantial amounts of chlorine dioxide and/orcreating risk of dangerous exothermic and explosive reactions.

Another object of the present invention is to produce an effectivecomposition for reducing or eliminating microorganisms and crystallinemineral deposits without the need for expensive equipment and/or themonitoring and testing of the equipment to assure safe operation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The composition of the present invention is a disinfectant mineraltreatment that causes mineral deposits to become amorphous. Thecomposition is formed by admixing two components in the presence ofwater. One component is selected from the group consisting ofneutralized phosphonate compounds, neutralized phosphonic acidcompounds, neutralized derivatives of phosphorus, blends of neutralizedphosphonate compounds, neutralized phosphonic acid compounds andneutralized phosphorus derivatives, neutralized anti-scalent polymers,and mixtures thereof. The neutralized phosphonate may be selected fromthe group consisting of, but not limited to; ATMP, HEDP, EDTMPA,HMDTMPA, DETPMPA, PHMPTMPA, PBTC, HPA, PCA, NTMP, AND DTPMP. A preferredneutralized phosphonate is 2 phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid(PBTC), and mixtures thereof.

The first component is neutralized to a pH of at least about 7.0 beforeor after it is admixed with water. Then, a second component, selectedfrom the group comprising chlorite salt and chlorate salt, is admixed tothe mixture of the first component and water. The water and the firstand second components are present in amounts sufficient to form a stableliquid composition in which there is substantially no conversion of thesecond component (the salt component) to chlorine dioxide.

After it is made, the composition is stored in containers until used.When used, the composition is pumped out from the container, into sourcewater, using an inexpensive metering pump.

The composition of this invention has a pH of 7.0 or higher. The secondcomponent is preferably about a 1% to about a 25% solution of sodiumchlorite in water.

A method of the invention involves the use of the composition forconverting minerals in the source water to amorphous mineral deposits onsurfaces contacted by the source water. The amorphous deposits areeasily removed from the surfaces, such as by wiping and/or washing.

Another method of the invention comprises disinfecting source water andsurfaces by use of the same two component composition.

These and other advantages and features will become apparent from thedetailed description of the best mode for carrying out the inventionthat follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram a water conduit flowing from a source of water,showing a component A being added to the water in the conduit andshowing component B being added to the mixture of the water and thecomponent A;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the “blank” sample taken under a microscope at40×-1; and

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the “treated” sample under the microscope,also at 40×-1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a component A and a component B are shown to bemixed together in a mixing vessel. The mixture is then admixed to sourcewater flowing through a conduit 10. Component A is selected from thegroup consisting of neutralized phosphonate compounds, neutralizedphosphonic acid compounds, neutralized derivatives of phosphorus, blendsof neutralized phosphonate compounds, neutralized phosphonic acidcompounds and neutralized phosphorus derivatives, neutralizedanti-scalent polymers, and mixtures thereof. The neutralized phosphonatemay be selected from the group consisting of, but not limited to; ATMP,HEDP, EDTMPA, HMDTMPA, DETPMPA, PHMPTMPA, PBTC, HPA, PCA, NTMP, ANDDTPMP. A preferred neutralized phosphonate is 2 phosphonobutane-1, 2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC). Component B is selected from the groupcomprising chlorite salt and chlorate salt.

One or more of the component A substances may be added to water in acontainer. The component A is admixed with the water. Component A can beacquired in a dry granular form or in a liquid form. It is importantthat the mixture of the component A and the water have a pH 7.0 orhigher before it and the component B are combined. Component B is a saltand it can be acquired in a dry granular form or in a liquid form. Theessential thing is that component A be neutralized so that its pH is atleast 7.0 so that when component B the salt compound is added. In thepresence of water, the two components A and B and the water will form astable liquid composition in which there is substantially no conversionof the second component, viz. the chlorite salt or the chlorate salt, tochlorine dioxide.

Another way or preparing the composition is to mix component A withcomponent B and then admix the mixture with water.

Engineered systems that are designed to safely generate chlorine dioxidecommonly cost upwards of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) and requireroutine monitoring and testing to ensure safe operation. According tothe invention, the disinfecting/mineral treating composition is simplyfed directly from a container to the source water by use of aninexpensive metering pump. Because substantial amounts of chlorinedioxide are not generated in the process, the risk of dangerousextothermic and explosive reactions are eliminated. Because dangerousgaseous compounds are not produced, a safe method of disinfecting andtreating minerals in source water is accomplished.

EXAMPLE #1 Neutralized Phosphonate/Sodium Chlorite Experiment

Collect a sample of pond water or equivalent that is known to containbiological life. Reserve some of the contaminated water to use as a“blank”. Add one part neutralized phosphonate chlorite solution to yield5 ppm NaClo2 and 5.9 ppm PBTC. Tests confirmed residuals. Allow thetreated water to sit for approximately 10 minutes before proceeding.Test the blank solution and the treated solution with BTM-2 biologicalkit and fungi plate; note biological growth over time. On Day 3, theBlank was observed with approximately 10 distinct colonies of bacterialgrowth; moderate pink on about ½ of agar. There was a lot of moldgrowth. On Day 3 the treated growth media had no bacterial and noyeast/mold growth.

EXAMPLE #2 Neutralized Phosphonate/Sodium Chlorite Experiment

Collected two liters of tap water. Calcium chloride and sodium carbonatewere added to each liter yielding solutions with approximately 250 ppmhardness. One of the liters was used as a “blank”. The other liter wastreated with neutralized phosponate/sodium chlorite solution to yield5.0 NaClO2 and 5.9 ppm PBTC. Heated the solutions for 10 hours, insuringthe water volume did not evaporate below 100 mls.

Remove 1.0 ml of the treated, heated and condensed water and place it ona microscope slide. Allow the sample to dry naturally in the atmosphere.FIG. 2 is a photo of the “blank” sample under the microscope at 40×-1.FIG. 3 is a photo of the “treated” sample under the microscope at 40×-1.

Observations of Dried Blank: This made thick white film on the slide.There are white crystals with “knobs” visible to the naked eye. Underthe scope, crystals are dark and rough looking with large dark knobs.The edge of the film had more “snowflake’ shaped crystals with knobs.

Observation of Dried sample treated with neutralized phosphonate/sodiumchlorite product: This made a thin opaque white film, crystals werelong, sparse & thin and they were not agglomerated into a densestructure as the blank was.

The conclusion: under identical circumstances, the treated solution hadsubstantially less crystalline substance than the blank solution.

EXAMPLE #3 Neutralized Phosphonate/Sodium Chlorite Experiment

Collect four liters of tap water. Calcium chloride and sodium carbonatewere added to two liters, yielding solutions with approximately 250 ppmhardness. Treat one of the plain tap water and one of the hard waterliters with neutralized phosphonate/sodium chlorite solution to yield5.0 ppm NaClo2 and 5.9 ppm PBTC. Cleanly cut (at an angle) the bottom of16 fresh rose stems; place four stems into each beaker and observeresults over 8 days.

CONCLUSION

From the information included, we can see the roses treated withneutralized phosphonate/sodium chlorite solution (5.0 NaClO2 and 5.9 ppmPBTC) demonstrated the longest shelf-life. This was particularly visiblein hard water since biofilm and hardness mineral crystallization canaccumulate in the stems, inhibiting the uptake of water.

TAP WATER Tap-BLANK Tap-Treated Day 1: 2 yellow, 2 pink; all 2 yellow, 2pink; all buds Apr. 14, 2006 buds Day 2 Saturday, no Saturday, noobservations observations Day 3 Sunday, no Sunday, no observationsobservations Day 4 All buds open. 2 pinks All buds opening & w/brown onpetals; 1 healthy. All leaves green. pink w/dried leaves. Day 5 Same asday 4. Sane as day 4 Day 6 Same as day 4 Same as day 4 Day 7 Same as day4. Both Same as day 4 pinks mostly brown, 1 pink dying. Day 8 2 yelloware healthy; 2 3 open & healhy; 1 pink pink dead. wilting with driedleaves

HARD WATER Hard-BLANK Hard-Treated Day 1; 2 pink, 2 yellow. All 2 pink,2 yellow. All buds. Apr. 14, 2006 buds. Day 2 Saturday, no Saturday, noobservations. observations. Day 3 Sunday, no Sunday, no observations.observations. Day 4 All open & healthy. 1 All open & healthy. yellow hasminor blemishes. Day 5 Same as day 4 Same as day 4 Day 6 All 4 open &healthy, Same as day 4 leaves starting to dry out. Day 7 1 healthy, 1wilting Same as day 4, leaves yellow. 2 healthy pink. just starting todry a little. All leaves dried. Day 8 1 yellow healthy w/dry All open &healthy, minor leaves 3 dying w/dried leaf drying. leaves.

Observations:

TREATED, TAP TREATED, TRIAL # WATER HARD WATER AVERAGE BLANK * * worstTREATED ***** ***** best * = WORST ***** = BEST

1. A disinfecting/mineral treating composition formed by mixing a firstcomponent selected from the group comprising neutralized phosphonic acidcompounds, neutralized phosphonate compounds, neutralized derivatives ofphosphorus, neutralized anti-scalent polymers, and mixtures thereof, asecond component from the group comprising chlorite salt and chloratesalt and water; wherein the water and the first and second componentsare present in amounts sufficient to form a stable liquid composition inwhich there is substantially no conversion of the second component tochlorine dioxide.
 2. The composition of claim 1, having a pH of 7.0 orhigher.
 3. The composition of claim 1, in which the first component isneutralized to a pH of at least about 7.0 before mixing second componentto the first component.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein thesecond component is sodium chlorite.
 5. The composition of claim 4,wherein the second component is an about 1% to about 25% solution ofsodium chlorite.
 6. A composition formed by mixing a first componentselected from the group comprising neutralized phosphonic acidcompounds, neutralized phosphonate compounds, neutralized derivatives ofphosphorus and anti-scalent polymer, and mixtures thereof, water, asecond component from the group comprising chlorite salt and chloratesalt, water and; wherein the pH of the first component is adjusted to besubstantially about 8.5 before the second component is admixed with thefirst component.
 7. A composition formed by mixing a first componentselected from the group comprising neutralized phosphonic acidcompounds, neutralized phosphonate compounds, neutralized derivatives ofphosphorus, anti-scalent polymers, and mixtures thereof, secondcomponent from the group comprising chlorite salt and chlorate salt, andwater; wherein the first component is neutralized to a pH ofsubstantially 7.0 before the second component is admixed with the firstcomponent.
 8. A method of forming distorted mineral deposits on asurface, comprising: mixing a first component selected from the groupcomprising neutralized phosphonic acid compounds, neutralizedphosphonate compounds, neutralized derivatives of phosphorus,neutralized anti-scalent polymers and mixtures thereof, a secondcomponent from the group comprising chlorite salt and chlorate salt, andwater; wherein the first and second components are present in amountssufficient to form a stable composition in which there is substantiallyno conversion of the second component to chlorine dioxide; and applyingthe disinfecting composition to the surface and cause mineral depositsto become amorphous.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprisingwashing the amorphous mineral deposits from the surface.
 10. A method ofdisinfecting a surface, comprising: mixing a first component selectedfrom the group comprising neutralized phosphonic acid compounds,neutralized phosphonate compounds, neutralized derivatives ofphosphorus, neutralized anti-scalent polymers and mixtures thereof, anda second component from the group comprising chlorite salt and chloratesalt, and water; wherein the first and second components are present inamounts sufficient to form a stable composition in which there issubstantially no conversion of the second component to chlorine dioxide;and applying the composition to a surface to remove microorganisms fromthe surface.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second component isan about 1% to about 25% sodium chlorite.